Christmas for my 1040ST. What should I get it?

[SlagOMatic]

I have an internally-bone-stock 1040ST. Externally it has an UltraSATAN, a Dell 24" LCD monitor, and Logitech speakers. The monitor and speakers are driven by a VGA adapter that I bought from a dishonest vendor whose name I shall not mention here because I'm sure people in the back of the office would make a show of it. Suffice to say the adapter doesn't work properly, the guy I bought it from was dishonest in his sales pitch and lied to me about making things right after the fact, and refuses to support his product. I also bought an ST cartridge slot power source from the same jackass (bought at the same time; I fell for his deception and wasn't aware he was a jackass when I bought it). The cartridge adapter provides power for both the UltraSATAN and the speakers which is nice as it means I can turn the speakers and UltraSATAN on and off with the Atari.

 

Anyway. Internally the ST is bone stock. According to this page I'm running TOS 1.02 ("Copyright 1986, 1987"). On my (Atari's) wish list in no specific order...

 

• A new VGA adapter with audio that isn't sold by a dishonest and unreliable vendor.
• A memory upgrade. I think 4MB is max on the 68000?
• An upgrade to TOS, perhaps a switchable ROM setup to let me run different TOS versions on demand?
• Any way to upgrade the keyboard?
• A Y-adapter so I can connect a mouse and a joystick to that port at the same time. (I used to have one decades ago, no idea where it went.)
• Any way to adapt a more modern mouse?
• Maybe some kind of network adapter a la Fujinet?

 

Suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

[+DarkLord]

1. New VGA adapter - grab one from Exxo's Store (which might be under a 10 day holiday hiatus) or here:

 

https://centuriontech.eu/product/st2vga-r4/

 

2. Yep, 4 megs max unless you install something like the STorm-ST:

 

https://wiki.newtosworld.de/index.php?title=Storm_ST

 

3. You definitely need to upgrade to at least TOS v1.4, for increased features and much improved mass storage speeds. It's a 6 chip

or 2 chip replacement. If you go higher to TOS v2.06, you'll have to get an adapter board and it's more involved.

 

4. Grab the "TT Touch 2" keyboard upgrade from Best Electronics to improve the keyboard.

 

https://www.best-electronics-ca.com/2nd Gen. TT_XE Touch web page/2nd Gen. TT_XE Touch 22.htm

 

5. Not sure, I've never tried that...

 

6. Grab the MouSTer to use a modern USB mouse or the True Mouse from Best Electronics for a much improved but more traditional one.

 

https://www.best-electronics-ca.com/accesori.htm

 

https://retrohax.net/shop/modulesandparts/mouster/

 

7. Try the NetUSBee, or the SidecarT.

 

https://lotharek.pl/productdetail.php?id=46

 

https://sidecartridge.com/

 

Hope this gives you some ideas. Don't stop with one, give your ST all the retro love it deserves. 

 

[WhataKowinkydink]

I'd do the TOS update :)

[calfranklin0598]

I just placed an online order for the SideCarT device.  Looks very promising!  Does anyone have any input or thoughts about this fairly new Atari ST device?  Thanks, Cal

 

 

[Jfcatari]

I bought one as well. 

This is a really neat device that has great functionality and it continues to evolve.